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Patented Mar. 7, I899 G. CHAPMAN, D BDd.

T. TOLE, Administrator. HOWING MACHINE.

(Application fil ed Dec. 11, 1897.\

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE CHAPMAN, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS; THOMAS TOLE ADMINIS- TRATOR OF SAID CHAPMAN, DECEASED.

MOWING-MACHINEV.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,697, dated March 7, 1899. Application filed December 11, 1897- Serial No. 661,579- (No model.)

-To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a cutting apparatus for grain and grass cutting machines in which the sickle is driven without the employment of a pitman, thereby increasing the efficiency of the machine, reducing its cost, and removing the principal source of trouble.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a mowing-machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical lengthwise section of the inner shoe. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the shoe.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only such parts of a mowing-machine necessary to a complete understanding of my improvements.

The main frame 1 is supported upon carrying-wheels 2. The finger-bar 3 has a connection with the main frame by the couplingbar 4, having the usual inner shoe 5 and yoke 6. The ordinary sickle 7 is employed, and to its inner end is secured a sickle-head, consisting of the portion 8, secured to the sickle, and the uprising portion 9, located at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the sickle. A section 10 has a detachable connection with the horizontal and vertical sections and is adjustable toward the vertical section by the slot and bolt 11 and the removable packing 12.

To the upper face of the inner shoe is secured a bracket 13, having its upper end in box form. An ear 14, rising from the rear end of the inner shoe, has a forward extension 15, receiving the rear fork of the yoke, and is perforated. A shaft 16 is supported by the extension and bracket, having its rear end extending beyond the extension. The center portion 17 of this shaft is bent in crank form, supporting a roller 18. This roller is located in the vertical opening 19 in the sicklehead, the roller properly filling the opening. It is evident that this shaft can be rotated in various ways-for instance, a tumbling-rod 20, connected to the shaft at one end, its other end having a gear connection with the driving-wheels of the machine, by which a r0- tary movement is imparted to the shaft, and through it a reciprocating movement is imparted to the sickle.

By making a direct connection with the sickle and in the same plane as the couplingbar connections with the finger-bar the sickle will be driven with the same ease whether the finger-bar be horizontal, elevated, or depressed, and by the employment of the roller on the crank-section of the shaft the wear on the roller will be nearly uniform, while in machines employing a pitman the wear is practically all at one point, which will soon flatten the ball, rendering the parts loose and imparting a jerky movement to the sickle.

In grain-cutting machines a coupling-bar is not employed, and the sickle can be driven direct from the driving-shaft of the machine through the crank.

I claim as my invention- In a cutting apparatus'for grain and grass cutting machines, the combination of an inher shoe provided with two projections rising from its upper face, the rear projection provided with a-circumferential groove, a yoke supported by the projection one end held in position in the circumferential groove, a coupling-bar secured to the yoke, a bracket secured to the upper face of the inner shoe, a crank supported by the bracket and the projection having the circumferential groove, a finger-bar secured to the inner shoe, a knife supported by the finger-bar and a connection between the knife and crank.

GEORGE CHAPMAN.

\Vitnesses: j

ARTHUR CHAPMAN, A. O. BEHEL. 

